What is a vertebrate?

A vertebrate is an animal that has a backbone. The backbone is made up of many bones called vertebrae which go from the skull and down the back or middle of the body. People are vertebrates. Your backbone runs from your skull to your tailbone. Can you see the backbone in the picture below?

Activity: If you touch the middle of your back, you can feel your backbone.

A backbone is also called a vertebral column or a spine. Vertebrates have a skeleton inside their bodies which is made of bones. 

Animals which DO NOT have a backbone are called invertebrates.

Types of vertebrates

Vertebrates can be divded into five groups. They are mammals, birds, reptiles, fish and amphibians. We will look at each group separately.